Zon basses - is everything OK ?

[gwangi]

Not to mention the ever changing exchange rate.

+1

 

[iTzPrime]

Waiting 2 years for a bass would be acceptable for me (if they quoted the time beforehand). A delay of several year is just unprofessional. The excuse of hardware-delays on a product that should have been finished years ago would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.

Sounds like Martin and Joe did not communicate. Thhat shou

A lot of luthiers (and other people) don't spend time on the internet. It's not where their attention goes. Demanding (on forum) that they do so is like yelling for your kid to come into the living room while they're away at physical school (remember those days? coming soon again I hope) - they just aren't there to hear you.
IMO this issue (and thread) won't be resolved by Joe posting here but by @mrgittleman @Rumblefisher and whomever else is on the multi-year waiting-and-avoidance plan getting their instruments.

I get that they don't spend a lot of time on the internet, but some updates should be done. I bought a custom base from Torillo with 32 inch scale. Got quoted a 9 month wait time. Every 2 weeks I got pictures of wood/parts that I could choose from. He made a mistake filing the neck and built a new one and I still got the bass after 6 months. 3 months before the quoted time. Torillo is a two-man shop, with Tom being the only builder, so there is no excuse for bad communication.

Rumble, here's to making the best of every minute!

I heard back from the shop tonight. The preamp has arrived, and the bass is assembled sans tuners and pickups. They are now waiting on deliveries from Gotoh and Bartolini, both of which (I'm told) are behind schedule... See you guys in a few months!

I ordered several things from Gotoh that were delayed. Gotoh is behind schedule, but it is 1-2 weeks, not months.

What a read! For those waiting on basses, I genuinely hope it all works out.

I want to share my experience with @George Furlanet at Fbass. I ordered an Fbass in 2012 (standard AC6 fretless with custom finish). I loved the look and sound of Fbasses and I really liked that they are Canadian-made. As I recall, I was quoted an 8-9 month turnaround. I received my bass on schedule (+/- a couple weeks) and I received pictures every step of the way; both directly and via social media (my bass was pictured with others in various stages of production). Throughout the build, @Marcel Furlanet at Fbass was available via phone and email. I never had a single doubt or fear...I could devout all my energy to anxiously and impatiently waiting for my new bass.

I imagine COVID impacted production times in 2020 & 2021, but my experience was excellent. I highly recommend Fbass if you are in the market for a custom / high end bass....especially fretless, but that is just my preference.

Agreed on the last couple of points. I ordered a Wal new in 2013, and the quoted wait time was 24 months. I got my bass in exactly 24 months, I got multiple unprompted emails along the way, I got photos of the neck and body, and a picture of the bass in its case just as it was being shipped. Compared to other premium builders, there is a stark contrast.

Yes that is what one should expect from custom builts. I thought about ordering an Fbass, but Torillo was cheaper due to the import taxes in Austria. Scary what Zon is telling his customers.

 

[JuanB]

@Rumblefisher I saw some of your classified postings and wanted to say congratulations on your wife being pregnant! Have you had any contact with the shop recently?

 

[bigsnack]

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to give everyone a little update. I haven't heard from the shop lately, however I did drop the folks at Bartolini a line. Since Zon had mentioned that they were waiting for pickups, I figured I would try and talk to someone there and see what the ETA was. This is directly taken from the email response I received from Bartolini this morning:

Hi "Bigsnack",
We have a bunch of stuff for Zon. Waiting for them to ask for it.
Best Regards,
Doug

So it sounds like Zon isn't requesting the pickups from the vendor, so it doesn't appear as though the issue is with Bartolini backorder issues afterall... Maybe a few folks mentioning that a little birdie told them that the pickups are ready and waiting might help. Take care and talk to you soon!

 

[JuanB]

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to give everyone a little update. I haven't heard from the shop lately, however I did drop the folks at Bartolini a line. Since Zon had mentioned that they were waiting for pickups, I figured I would try and talk to someone there and see what the ETA was. This is directly taken from the email response I received from Bartolini this morning:

Hi "Bigsnack",
We have a bunch of stuff for Zon. Waiting for them to ask for it.
Best Regards,
Doug

So it sounds like Zon isn't requesting the pickups from the vendor, so it doesn't appear as though the issue is with Bartolini backorder issues afterall... Maybe a few folks mentioning that a little birdie told them that the pickups are ready and waiting might help. Take care and talk to you soon!

...wow...
I was recently told that the delays were due to Bartolini. Some sketchy stuff seems to be going on.

 

[JuanB]

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to give everyone a little update. I haven't heard from the shop lately, however I did drop the folks at Bartolini a line. Since Zon had mentioned that they were waiting for pickups, I figured I would try and talk to someone there and see what the ETA was. This is directly taken from the email response I received from Bartolini this morning:

Hi "Bigsnack",
We have a bunch of stuff for Zon. Waiting for them to ask for it.
Best Regards,
Doug

So it sounds like Zon isn't requesting the pickups from the vendor, so it doesn't appear as though the issue is with Bartolini backorder issues afterall... Maybe a few folks mentioning that a little birdie told them that the pickups are ready and waiting might help. Take care and talk to you soon!

I wonder what Zon would tell you if you told them what Doug from Bartolini told you.

 

[LBS-bass]

Man the suck-a$$ thing now is Wal is not taking orders right now and you have to be put on a list and wait til Wal gets back with you once they get caught up on there orders and the last time I heard they were roughly 4 years out so that's why Paul isn't excepting orders.

So wait a minute. This is getting into damned if you do and damned if you don't territory.

The honest builder who sees a mess on the horizon with regard to not being able to source parts is supposed to do what, exactly? Take your order and feed you some imaginary build date that he knows he may not be able to adhere to? Or maybe do what Paul is doing and stop taking orders until things are a bit more under control.

I really don't get the idea that people are supposed to pull things out of the ether to satisfy everyone no matter which way the wind if blowing. If parts are scarce (and they are) I'd much rather be told that it can't be done than given some BS line and left to twist in the wind. Honesty is hard to swallow sometimes, but at least it's honest.

 

[bigsnack]

I wonder what Zon would tell you if you told them what Doug from Bartolini told you.

ill let you know what they say

 

[Eilif]

So wait a minute. This is getting into damned if you do and damned if you don't territory.

The honest builder who sees a mess on the horizon with regard to not being able to source parts is supposed to do what, exactly? Take your order and feed you some imaginary build date that he knows he may not be able to adhere to? Or maybe do what Paul is doing and stop taking orders until things are a bit more under control.

I really don't get the idea that people are supposed to pull things out of the ether to satisfy everyone no matter which way the wind if blowing. If parts are scarce (and they are) I'd much rather be told that it can't be done than given some BS line and left to twist in the wind. Honesty is hard to swallow sometimes, but at least it's honest.

Honesty up front and refund if necessary is best I think.

My Wendler and Lowdown were both moderately late and both times THE BUILDER took the initiative to repeatedly keep me informed with updated and pictures. I never had to chase them and I happily recommend them to anyone.

The builder of my pedal steel (Stage One and Encore Zum models)stops taking orders at some point almost every year, sometimes for quite a few months or more. He only starts taking orders again when he is sure he can deliver a new batch of orders within the time frame agreed to.

That sort of clear headedness and honesty is the way to go.

 

[JuanB]

ill let you know what they say

Thanks! That's going to be an awkward one...

 

[jim nolte]

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to give everyone a little update. I haven't heard from the shop lately, however I did drop the folks at Bartolini a line. Since Zon had mentioned that they were waiting for pickups, I figured I would try and talk to someone there and see what the ETA was. This is directly taken from the email response I received from Bartolini this morning:

Hi "Bigsnack",
We have a bunch of stuff for Zon. Waiting for them to ask for it.
Best Regards,
Doug

So it sounds like Zon isn't requesting the pickups from the vendor, so it doesn't appear as though the issue is with Bartolini backorder issues afterall... Maybe a few folks mentioning that a little birdie told them that the pickups are ready and waiting might help. Take care and talk to you soon!

I hate to say it but from my experience in working in small Mom&Pop camera stores that were struggling to stay open because of Amazon my guess is Zon isn’t asking for the Bart parts because he would then have to pay for them and for whatever reasons he doesn’t have the money right now, just an educated guess.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to give everyone a little update. I haven't heard from the shop lately, however I did drop the folks at Bartolini a line. Since Zon had mentioned that they were waiting for pickups, I figured I would try and talk to someone there and see what the ETA was. This is directly taken from the email response I received from Bartolini this morning:

Hi "Bigsnack",
We have a bunch of stuff for Zon. Waiting for them to ask for it.
Best Regards,
Doug

So it sounds like Zon isn't requesting the pickups from the vendor, so it doesn't appear as though the issue is with Bartolini backorder issues afterall... Maybe a few folks mentioning that a little birdie told them that the pickups are ready and waiting might help. Take care and talk to you soon!

In late 2017, Zon told me my bass should be done by January, one month before the ETA of 8 months. It arrived in March. No complaints from me at all... Just wanted to say that this is the reason Zon gave for the delay: "Bartolini sent the wrong pickups".

Two TBer friends who experienced multi-year waits on their Zons were also given "Bartolini messed up" as one of the excuses.

And I'm pretty sure I've heard it from others over in the Zon club thread.

So, it's definitely a theme with Zon. My hunch is that Bartolini is aware that Zon regularly scapegoats them -- the best companies make mistakes, I assume it's true at least some of the time. But perhaps Bartolini is getting a little tired of it, so they were willing to say they built the gear, Zon just needs to collect.

Again, just a hunch.

 

[bigsnack]

Yeah, Bartolini’s response had the “here we go again” air to it.

 

[Jefus]

Oddly, the whole reason I ordered a new Zon a few months ago was so I could get one without Bartolinis. Nothing against that company but I've hated their pickups in anything but a fretless.

 

[bigsnack]

Well everyone, it looks like my approach has helped move things along at Zon. I received an email very early this morning that I should (fingers crossed) have my bass before the end of the month We shall see, but hopefully this will lead to some good results for a few other folks as well!

 

[JuanB]

Well everyone, it looks like my approach has helped move things along at Zon. I received an email very early this morning that I should (fingers crossed) have my bass before the end of the month We shall see, but hopefully this will lead to some good results for a few other folks as well!

Glad to hear that but as we've seen before it ain't over till it's over.

I emailed Doug at Bartolini about Zon for fun and all he told me was that the pandemic is causing delays.

 

[Slaymus]

A couple years ago, I was told « ready in 2 weeks » « next month » several times during more than 6 months…
Good luck @bigsnack !

 

[iTzPrime]

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to give everyone a little update. I haven't heard from the shop lately, however I did drop the folks at Bartolini a line. Since Zon had mentioned that they were waiting for pickups, I figured I would try and talk to someone there and see what the ETA was. This is directly taken from the email response I received from Bartolini this morning:

Hi "Bigsnack",
We have a bunch of stuff for Zon. Waiting for them to ask for it.
Best Regards,
Doug

So it sounds like Zon isn't requesting the pickups from the vendor, so it doesn't appear as though the issue is with Bartolini backorder issues afterall... Maybe a few folks mentioning that a little birdie told them that the pickups are ready and waiting might help. Take care and talk to you soon!

No suprise there. As I said with Gotoh where I ordered quite a few parts they have delays 1-2 weeks. 2-4 weeks if you have something more special. Guess it is the same for bartolini. After reading the thread it seems that either Zon is incompetent dealing with many orders or malicious. Either way not a great look...

 

[JuanB]

A couple years ago, I was told « ready in 2 weeks » « next month » several times during more than 6 months…
Good luck @bigsnack !

Did you raise a stink about it? If you did, did it help? I'm starting to get a bit tired of the runaround.

 

[mrgittleman]

Did you raise a stink about it? If you did, did it help? I'm starting to get a bit tired of the runaround.

You think you’re tired of the runaround I’ve been waiting 1,891 days and still can’t get a straight answer.